Energy Wastage
Stray electrical currents caused by stray voltages can dissipate significant amounts of electrical power on a continuous basis. This wasted power usually appears as heat, which can further degrade insulating materials, or even start electrical fires. In rainy or damp conditions, the emission of visible steam from an electrical utility box, lighting pole, or manhole could be due to an electrical fault, and should be reported to the power utility company for investigation.
Electrical power is typically not billable by the power utility company if it does not pass through a customer premises electrical meter. Power leakage in the electrical distribution system is real power that is wasted, and is a real economic loss to the utility. Therefore, the power utility should be motivated to find and repair power leakage, both for economic reasons and liability concerns.
Industrial, commercial, and residential users of electricity should be similarly motivated to identify and correct electrical faults on their property. In addition, environmental conservation groups have become interested in this aspect of energy conservation.
Read more about this topic: Stray Voltage
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